Method and machine for making golf club shafts



June 6, lv933 B. c. BATcHELLr-:R 1,912,751

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING GOLF CLUB SHAFTS June 6, 1933. B. c.BATCHELLER Y1,912,751

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING GOLF CLUB SHAFTS E; gSheetS-Sheet 2 FiledApril '7, 1928 B. c. BATCHELLER l,9l2,75l METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKINGGOLF CLUB SHAFTS N N Filed April 7, 1928 ,3 Sheets-Sheet 3 15o QQ \v\\\I I ////6 I I i /f/ff A N m r/ U5 lb Patented June 6, 1,933

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FORJK & HOE COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ACRPORATION F OHIO METHOD-AND mcHiNE For.

L l Application lcd April 7,

My invention relates to machines and lmethods for drawing metallictubular artipered seamless tube.

Another object of my invention is to provide a tube tapering machinewhich will accomplish the taper in a tube by a combined thrust androlling or by a combined drawing and rolling action thereon. Anotherobject of my invention resides in the provision of a tube taperingmachine capable of producing a tube having a noncircular"cross-sectional configuration.

Another object of my invention is to prof vide a machine for producing atapered tube wherein the dimension of the die orifice is 'automaticallyvaried by a mechanism controlled and timed' simultaneously with thetravel of the tube through the die.

Another object of my invention is to pro-l vide a machine which will bedurable in construction, simple and positive in operation, readilyoperable, and Whereinthe possibility of the tubes buckling during thetapering operation will be reduced to a minimum.

Another-object of my invention resides in the provision of atubetaperingl machine wherein provision is madeto adapt the same for shapingthe die orifices to the desired configuration. y

These, and other objectsof my invention and the invention itself willbecome apparent from rreference to the following description of anembodiment thereof, and in which description reference will be had tothe annexed drawings forming apart of this specification. g

Referring t'o the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side'elevational view of ay machine embodyin my invention;some of the same being bro en away and shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a` fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the foregoingembodiment, the view being an enlargement of the same;

MAKING GOLF CLUB slums 192s. serial No. 268,130.

Fig.v 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,looking in the direction of the arrows; i

Fig. 4 is a sectional 4-4 of Fig. 5; n Y

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5,ofF ig. 4;and

Fig. 6 is an elevational View of atube produced by the hereinreferred toembodiment, such as a golf shaft.

Referring to all the figures of the drawings, in all of which like partsare designated by like reference characters, my invention preferablycomprises" a main frame 10, a table or bed 11, supported on a pluralityof legs 12, said frame, bed and legs being preferably formed of a heavymetallic casting, to enable them to withstand the forces to which theyare subjected during a drawing operation on a tube, rod or the like.

A drivingmechanism for the various parts of ,the machine is provided andcomprises in the preferred embodiment of m invention, a dependingbracket14 supporte on the under side of the table 11, having a bore 15 adjacentits lower end for the reception of a bearing. A bearing bracket 16 isbolted to the side of one of thel legs 12 and in alignment with thebearing recess 15, which bearings` provide a support for a shaft 17. Apair of driven pulleys 18 and 19 are provided and loosely mounted on theshaft 17 and may be driven by lbelts 20 and 21. The belts are driven byan electric motor, not shown, or by any wellknown source of ower. l

A double actlng clutch 32 is slidably mounted on the splined portion 33of the shaft 17 and is disposed between pulleys 18 and 19. The clutchhas a pair of cone elements 4 and 5, and may be reciprocated on theshaft, by the lever 34, to engage cone clutch elements 6 or? carried bythe pulleys "18 and 19, respectively, to effect a forward or reversedrive of the machine. For example, swinging of the lever 34 to the rightwill connect the clutch element 4 with the clutch element 6, whereby aforward drive of the machinethrough the pulleys 18 maybe effected. Saidleveris plvoted at 2 in a bracket 3 depending from the table.

View taken onthe line' BIRNEY c. Barman., or WALLINGFORD, VERMONT,AssrGNoR 'ro THE AMERICAN shaft 17 and rotatable therewith, said spur'gear constantly meshes with a relatively large gear 22 keyed to a shaft23 journaled in a bearing 25 formed in the leg 12. A spur gear 26 isalso keyed to the shaft 23 between the gear 22 and the ange 24 and isconstantly in mesh with a large main drive gear 27, which gear iskeyedto an end of a main screw drive shaft 28 journaled in each end of theframe 10 in bearings 30, and when driven, the shaft 28 is adapted totraverse the work through the drawing die in a manner which willhereinafter be described in detail.

The end of the shaft '28 is splined at 34 at a portion between thebearing 30 and the gear 27, on which is slidably and relativelynon-rotatably mounted a smallpinion having a collar 36 provided with acorresponding bore, the collar is provided with a, pair of spacedannular anges 37 and 38 and a circumferential groove 39 adapted toreceive a rvpair of inwardly projecting fingers 40 carried by a yoke 41.

The yoke 41 is keyed to a transversely disposed shaft 42 mounted injournal bearings in the main frame. A lever 45 is secured to aprojecting end of the shaft so that the yoke may be swung by an operatorto effect a hor- A izontal shifting of the pinion 35 on the shaft 28into or out of mesh with a gear 47, keyed i' to a longitudinallyextending shaft 49, and A a gear, not shown, keyed to a shaft oppositeto the gearj47. Shifting of the said pinion 35 out of mesh with the gear47 may be effected by an operator when it 4is desired to employ themachine during the process of forming` the drawing dies.

Disposed on the-opposite side of the frame and on a plane parallel tothe shaft 49 is a second screw shaft 50 journaled fin bearings 48 ateach end of the frame as is theshaft 49, anda gear similar to the gear47 is keyed to the shaft 50 directly opposite the gear 47 but free frommeshing engagement with the pinion 35. Said shafts 49 and 50 areadaptedto vary the size of the die orifices in a manner which willhereinafter be set forth in detail.

A gear 55 is provided and keyed to a shaft 51 journaled in a bearingprovided in an upstanding bracket 53 disposed adjacent the end of thetable. Said gear is constantly in mesh with the pair of4 gears 47,whereby these gears may be driven simultaneously in the same direction.

Shafts 49 and 50 extend throughout the entire length of the frame andproject beyond the end thereof opposite to the end supporting thereduction gearing. The projecting ends are threaded at 60 and 61, asbest shown in Fig. 2, and are disposed into diametrically oppositelydisposed threaded bores 62 and 63v of a traversing ring 64 formed ofcast metal whereby it may withstand heavy strains t0 Vwhich it may besubjected. Rotation of the shafts 49 and 50 through' the reduction gears21 to 47 will cause the ring to be moved to the right or left on ahorizontal plane Idepending upon the direction of rotation thereof andupon which one of the clutch faces are engaged.

A plurality of pairs of lugs extend radial- Ily of thefring periphery,preferably four in number, and indicated at 65 and 66, in Fig. 1.a

These lugs are apertured to provide la pivotal connection for aplurality of links 67, said rings and said lugs are interconnected byvirtu'e of pivot pins 69. There are preferably four of these links. Eachof the opposite ends of the links are bifurcated at 74 and are pivotallyconnected at 75 to a plurality of bell crank levers 76, 77, 78 and 79 byvirtue of a plurality of pins 80.l

As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the bell cranklevers are pivoted to avplurality of rods 81, 82, 83 and 84 carried by a die head 85 wherebyeach of the bell crank levers will oscillate on an axis at right anglesto the plane of travel of the tube to be drawn. Cast or forged integralwith the bell crank levers are die segments 86, 87, 88 and 89, all ofwhich are projected radially towards each other, and are provided withtapered eccentric grooves 72 in their peripheries, and all of thegrooves are joined to provide a circular.A die orifice 73. The innercontacting edges of the segments are correspondingly beveled at 68 toprovide a rigid guiding effect of the die segments for each other whenthey are oscillated or rolled to vary the diameter of the die orifice byvirtue of the shafts 49 and 50 and associated driving mechanism. That isto say, when the die segments are rolled to the right they will causethe die korifice to gradually reduce in diameter by virtueof theeccentric grooves, and due to the taper of the grooves the orifice willbe always circular. When the segments are swung to the left the groovesmove to a drawing position whereat the die orifice is increased indiameter.

The ends of the screw shafts y49 and 50 are reduced at their ends 91 and92and project into recess 93 and 94 in laterally extending flanges 96 ofthe arms 98 and 99. Said arms are preferably formed integral with anannular flanged ring 103, which ring is bolted to the end of the mainframe at 104, adjacent to and to the rear of the die head 85 and extendforwardly vof the main frame and flares outwardly. The die head 85 isbolted t0 the flanges 96, which flanges support the sa'l'ine.

The work gripping and work traversing mechanism heretofore referred topreferably comprises a carriage 105 having elongated laterallyprojecting sides 106, the ends of ably within a pair of horizontallyextending track flanges in the inner opposed walls of the frame sideskirts 108 and 109. Said screw shaft v28 is threaded into athreaded bore110 formed in a depending 'portion 111 of the carriage 105 andintermediate the sides of the carriage, whereby the carriage 105 will bereciprocated tothe right or to the left depending upon the direction ofrotation of the screw shaft 28.

Disposed above the screw shaft 28 is a for-` wardly extending tubularshaft l112 Ahaving an exterior threaded portion 113. One end of theshaft is threaded at 114 and secured in 'the carriage 105. Theoppositeend of the j tubular shaft 112 is internally tapered as at 130and formed with pairs of opposed radial slots 132 cut in the side wallsof the tubular shaft 112 adjacent the tapered end. Screws 117 havingheads 118 proj ect radially into the slots and each is threaded to oneof a plurality of tube gripping jaw members 119 which are guided inlongitudinal movement by the screws, said jaws are provided with taperedexterior walls 121 and slidable in the tapered end of the tubular shaft,and the outer extending ends thereof are annularly flanged at 120, saidflanges projecting into an annular groove 122 inthe end of a tubularhousing 125 threaded onto the threaded portion 113 of the tubular shaft112. The jaws are retained in the annular groove 122-by virtue of ananof rtapered formation is placed within the tube 150 before the tube isclamped in the jaws for the drawing operation.

The embodiment described in the foregoing may be operated as follows:

The taperedv mandrel 151 is telescoped within a cylindrical tube 150 andthe tube and mandrel are; then placed 'in the work gripper or chuck andclamped therein by rov tation of the housing 125 causing the jawsv 119to be wedged in the tapered end of the tubular shaft 112, whereby theaws rigidly grip the tube and hold the same against relav tive movementin the chuck by virtue of their elongated contacting surfaces. j

The operator now swings the handlel lever 34 and engages the clutchelement 6 vwith the clutch element 4 to lockthe pulley 18 onto the shaft27 whereby the gears 21, 22, 26 and 27 are rotated.

Let vitbe assumed that the pinion 35 2 been shifted to the left in meshwith the gear .47 whereby the screwvshafts 49 and 50 are rotated.Rotation of the shafts 49 and 50 will traversethe ring 64 to the leftswinging the die segments to the right through the interposed rings andbell crank levers at a speed substantially 1/8 the speed of the travelof the tube through the die orifice whereby the grooves in the segmentsyare gradually swung starting with the groove ends of largest diameterand gradually decreasing the diameter of the die opening as the diesegments are swung. This is' accomplished by virtue of the tapereccentricity of the grooves in the die segments. L i

The'screw shaft 28 which is being rotated due to the rotation of thegear 27 slowly traverses the carriage which supports the work clutch orgripper, to the right at a speed substantially 8 times more than'the.speed of the oscillation of the die segment whereby the die orificevaries in diameter gradually and equal to the varying diameter of thetapered material as it is drawn through the die.

The die sections are rugged in form capable of performing heavyduty'without breaking and may be heat treated. I have illustrated anddescribed but four segments joined at their peripheries to providea dieorifice, it is to be understood thatI have considered the employment of5, 6'or 8 such segments and which number may be varied at will. It hasalso been contemplated that `the die grooves, j

instead of being grooved in cross-section t0 vprovide a circular dieorifice, may be of noncircular' form whereby when the peripheries of thedie segments are joined together, a

die orifice, for example, of octagonal cross-A '4 section may result.

I contemplate sometlmes employing thel los above described machine witha slight addition to the same in the formation of the grooves in thedies to the desired size and shape. Thismay be accomplished by a verysimple process with the proper equipment.

4For example, a fiuted reamer or the like of the exact shape of a model`golf stick may bejattached to the carriage of the machine in Aplace f atube, (and caused, in a suitable manner, .to be moved through the die inthe same direction as Athat of the drawing operaployed for rotatingthereamerjas it moves towards the die sections. Simultaneously to Presstheir opposed perip cries-into con tact with the reamer, while thereamer is rotating, whereby the tapered grooves may ntion of the tube,the driving means for the p' y I machine heretofore described being em-'lao the segments are slowly swungl'on their pivots l sectors, may be 45inches long and of an v. y

inch in diameter at one end and 1%, at the Aother end. p However, I havealso found that t of hexagonal or octagonal form in cross secthe reamermay be made in short sections and used successively in place of a singlereamer. The die sectors are rugged in construction, capable ofperforming heavy duty with little likelihood of breaking and of suchform that they may be readily heat treated. I sometimes contemplateemploying more than iive sectors in making up the die, and as many aseight'sectors may be advantai geously employed in some instances. Insuch instances, where I employ more than four sectors to comprise thedie, I may form the die sectors with flat peripheries and the shaft vmaybe drawn therethrough withoutA rotation, and thus a tubular shaft may beformed drawing grooves therein eccentrlc to the jaw' pivots and providedwith mechanism for concurrently propelling the work through the groovesand rocking the j aws, on their pivots; the method of forming thegrooves which includes first forming a cutting tool to thelongitudinally tapered form of the outside of the tube or rod to be`formed, and then propelling the tool through the grooves along the linein which the work is to be drawn andby the mechanism for propelling thework, and concurrently rocking the jaws on their pivots.I

2.' .In connection with a machine for draw- I ing tubes, rods or thelike to pre-selectedly varyin "diameter by' drawing the work throug adie passv and yconcurrently varying the size of the pass, the method ofpreparing the die pass to cause it to draw the predetermined variationsof diameter on the rod or tube which includes formin a ta ered cuttingtool to the pre-'selected orm o the work to be drawn, propelling thetool throughthe die pass to form the size and shape thereof at the samerelative rate of movement as the workis to be drawn, fandb the machinemeans for drawing the wor through the pass, and concurrently varying thesize of the die pass orifice at'the same relative rate as 1t ,is toqbevaried when drawing the tube.

3. In a machine for-drawing internally and externally tapering tubes, atapering mandrel of the desired taper of the interior of the tube tobedrawn, adapted to be inserted within a tube blank, a chuck adapted -togrip lthe outside of the tube blank and the mandrel therewithin atthelarge end of the mandrel. a die comprising a plurality of die aconnection between the element and each jaw, a longitudinally stationaryscrew threaded through the element, and means for rotating the screwr topropel the element thereon, and means for propelling the chuck to.simultaneously draw the tube and mandrel through the die.

4. In a. machine for drawing internally'and externally tapering'tubes, atapering mandrel of the desired taper of the interior of the tube to bedrawn, adapted to be inserted within a tube blank, a chuck adapted togrip the outside of the tube blank and the mandrel therewithin at thelarge end of the mandrel,

/ a die comprising a pluralityof die jaws having drawing grooves thereinadapted substantially to enclose the tube, a pivotv mounting for eachvjaw, the drawingk groove in the jaw being eccentric with respect to thepivot, means for rocking the jaws simultaneously around their pivots toreduce the orifice produced jointly by the jaws, said means comprising acommon jaw operating element, a connection between the element and eachaw, a longitudinally stationary screw threaded through the element, andmeans for rotating the screw to propel the element thereon, and meansfor simultaneously drawing the tube and mandrel through the die, saidmeans comprising a longitudinally stationary screw, means for rotatingthe screw and a threaded travelling element on the screw connected tothe chuck.

5. In a machine for drawing internally and externally tapering tubes, atapering mandrel of the desired taper of the interior of the tube to bedrawn, adapted to be inserted within a tube blank, a chuck adapted togrip the outside of the tube blank and the mandrel therewithin at thelarge end of the mandrel, a die comprising a plurality of die jawshaving drawing grooves therein adapted substantially to enclose thetube, a pivot mounting for each ijaw,the drawing groove in the jaw beingeccentric with respect to the pivot, means for rocking the jawssimultaneously around their pivots to reduce the orifice producedjointly by the jaws, said means comprising a common jaw operatingelement, a connection between the element and each jaw, a longitudinallystationary screw threaded through the element, and means for rotatingthe screw to propel the element thereon, and means for simultaneouslydrawing the tube and mandrel throu h the die, said means comprising alongitu inally stationary screw, means for rotating los' the screw, anda threaded travelling element on the screw connected to the chuck, and

l means for causing the said. screws to rotate concurrently.

`6. In a machine for drawin tapered tubes the combination of a diel heaa plurality ci lever form'diejelements pivoted in the head atintermediate portions and having tapered grooved contiguousp'eripheriesy on one sider of the pivot and lever arms on the oppositeleverl arms, means driven by the source or'y 'y power and connected tosa1d common means to move it bodily for simultaneously oscillatingthedie elements on their pivots to reduce the diameter ofthe dieorice,and for y feeding a tube and mandrel gripped by the carriage into thedieorifice at a speed of increased ratio relative to the speed at whichthe diameter of the die` orifice varies. v

7; In a machine for drawing internally and externally tapering tubes, atapering mandrel of the desired taper of the interior of the tube to bedrawn, adapted to be inserted within a tube blank, a chuck vadapted toip the tube blank` and the mandrel therewit in, atthe large end of themandrel, a 7die com# prlsing a plurality of die jaws having drawmggrooves therein adapted substantially to enclose the tube, apivotmounting for each jaw, the drawing groove in the jaw being eccentricwith respect to the pivot, means for rocking lthe jaws simultaneouslyaround their pivots -to reduce the orifice producedyjointly by the jaws,saidmeans comprising an arm on each jaw, a common jaw operatmg element,a connection element between the common jaw operating element and eacharmi, and means for pro lling the commonelement bodily longitudmally ofthe mandrel, and means for propelling the chuck to simultaneously Adrawthe tube and mandrel throu h the die.

8. n a machine Afor drawing internally and externally` tapering tubes, atapering mandrel of the desired taper of the interior :of the tube tobe' drawn, adapted to be inf 7 serted within a tube blank, a'fchuckadapted to grip the-tube blank and the mandrel therewithin, at the largeend of the mandrel, a die comprising a plurality of die jaws'havingdrawing grooves therein adapted substantially to enclose the tube, :ipivot mounting for each jaw, `the drawing groove in the jawbeingreccentric with respect to the pivot,

v,means for rocking theJ jaws simultaneously around their pivots toreduce the orifice produced jointly' bythe jaws, said means comprisingan armfbn each jaw, a common jaw operatlngelement, a linkelement betweenYthe common* element and each arm, 'and means for propelling the common4ele'nent longitudinally of the mandrel, and means for propelling thechuck to simultaneously draw the tube and mandrel through the die.

mounting for each jaw, the drawing groove in the jaw being eccentricwith respect to the pivot, means for rocking the jaws simul-y taneouslyaround their pivots to reduce the -oriiice produced jointly by thejaws., said means comprising an arm on each jaw, a common jaw operatingelement, a link element between the common element and each arm, andmeansfor propelling the common element bodily longitudinally ofthemandrel, and means for propelling the chuck to simultaneously draw thetube and mandrel through the die, said means comprising a longitudinallystationary, rotatable screw engaging the common element, and alongitudinally stationary, rotatable screw engaging the chuck. y

10. In a machine for drawing internally andv externally tapering tubes atapering mandrel of the desired taper oi the interior ofthe tube to bedrawn, adapted to be inserted within a tube blank,I a chuck adapted togrip the tube blank and the mandrel therewithin, at the largeendof themandrel, a die comprising a plurality of die jaws having drawing groovestherein adapted substantially toV enclose the tube, a pivot mounting foreach jaw, the drawing groove in the jaw being eccentric with respect tothe pivot, means for rocking the jaws simultaneously around their pivotsto reduce the orifice produced jointly by the jaws, said means comtheman relaxis and engaged with the coxn- 1 mon element, and means forpropelling the chuck to simultaneously draw the tube and mandrel throughthe die.

11. In a machine for drawing internally and externally tapering tubes, atapering fuif' mandrel of the desired taper of the interior of the tubeto be drawn, adapted to be inserted within a tube blank, a chuck adaptedto grip the tube blank and the mandrel j therewithin at the large end ofthe mandrel,

a die comprising a plurality of die jaws having drawing grooves thereinadapted substantially to enclose the tube, a pivot mounting for eachjaw, the drawing groove in the jaw being eccentric with respect to thepivot, means for rocking the jaws simultaneously around their pivots toreduce the orifice produced jointly by the jaws, said means comprisingan arm on each jaw, a common jaw operating element annularly surroundingthe axis of the mandrel, a cone necting element between the commonelement and each jaw, and means for propelling the common element bodilylongitudinally of the mandrel, and means for propelling the chuck tosimultaneously draw the tube and mandrel through the die.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature this 10th day ofMarch, 1928.

BIRNEY C. BATCHELLER;

